Test Market Showing Strong Results - USDA Approval For Use In U.S.
Public Schools - Nationwide Roll-out in U.S. Around the Corner
TORONTO, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - CoolBrands International Inc.
(TSX: COB.A) today announced that its test marketing of Yoplait Frozen
Breakfast Bars in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. market is showing early strong
positive results that are exceeding the Company's initial expectations.
CoolBrands also announced that a recent USDA approval qualifies the Yoplait
Frozen Breakfast Bars for inclusion in the Child Nutrition Program for all
U.S. public schools. The strong early test results, plus the USDA approval,
are causing CoolBrands to accelerate plans for a nationwide launch in the
U.S., possibly in time for the September back-to-school season.
Yoplait Frozen Breakfast Bars are a revolutionary new breakfast food
combining all the goodness of yogurt, fruit and cereal in a form that is fun,
easy and delicious. It's like eating ice cream for breakfast. Yet each Yoplait
Frozen Breakfast Bar is a delicious, nutritious breakfast that's rich in
calcium with 12 vitamins and minerals. With Yoplait Frozen Breakfast Bars,
breakfast just changed for good(TM) by making it easier than ever to get
everyone in the family to enjoy a healthy and nutritious breakfast no matter
how busy morning can be.
CoolBrands' lineup of Yoplait Frozen Breakfast Bars now includes three
flavors of frozen yogurt covered with crunchy fortified cereal: Vanilla,
Strawberry and Vanilla Orange Swirl.
Test marketing of the Yoplait Frozen Breakfast Bar line is currently
underway in supermarkets in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. market area, with
distribution in all major retailers supported by extensive television
advertising and print media coverage. In addition, the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved Yoplait Frozen Breakfast Bars
for use in all U.S. public schools as part of the Child Nutrition Program.
Currently 40-50% of Americans leave home without breakfast, the most
important meal of the day for body and mind. This is particularly an issue for
school age children who may be picky eaters or just not in the mood for
breakfast. This new fun, but nutritious, form of yogurt, fruit and cereal will
give everyone a chance to have a healthy breakfast that they will really
enjoy.
"Yoplait Frozen Breakfast Bars solve the breakfast problem in a unique
new way," said David J. Stein, President and Co-CEO for CoolBrands
International Inc. "Consumers want breakfast to be fast, easy and great
tasting and Yoplait Frozen Breakfast Bars provide all of these benefits, plus
balanced nutrition. Our consumer research indicated very strongly that once
consumers knew about this product they would try it. That is clearly happening
in our test market, where the product is being distributed by our DSD
subsidiary, Eskimo Pie Frozen Distribution."
Mr. Stein also stated "In addition to strong early take-away in
supermarkets, the USDA approval of Yoplait Frozen Breakfast Bars as a
qualified breakfast food in the Child Nutrition Program in U.S. public schools
is an important indicator of the market potential for this product. Public
schools are now focusing on finding healthier food offerings and at the same
time cutting operating costs. Yoplait Frozen Breakfast Bars offer balanced
nutrition in a form kids will enjoy and that requires no preparation. Based on
these developments, we are preparing to roll-out to full nationwide
distribution in time for September back-to-school time."
Mr. Stein added "Ready-to-eat breakfast foods capture approximately
$15 billion of retail sales in the U.S., and frozen breakfast foods and
breakfast bars are among the fastest growing segments based on the consumer's
desire for convenience. Yoplait Frozen Breakfast Bars offer that convenience
with an unprecedented combination of nutrition and taste appeal. Since there
is no other product similar to Yoplait Breakfast Bars already on the market,
we believe there is an opportunity for CoolBrands to win significant share in
the ready-to-eat breakfast foods category."
Yoplait(R) is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT Marques Internationales
SAS (France) and CoolBrands manufactures, distributes and markets Yoplait
frozen desserts and frozen novelties in the U.S. under license.
About CoolBrands International:
CoolBrands International is a leader in the consumer products and
franchising segments of the frozen dessert industry, marketing a diverse range
of frozen dessert products under nationally and internationally recognized
brand names. CoolBrands is the pre-eminent company in the fast-growing "Better
for You" ice cream category with offerings such as fat free, non-dairy Whole
Fruit(TM) Sorbet, Weight Watchers(R) Smart Ones(R) low-fat and fat-free frozen
desserts and new Atkins(R) Endulge(TM) controlled carbohydrate super premium
ice cream. CoolBrands also competes in the super premium ice cream category
with the Dreamery(R) Ice Cream and Godiva(R) Ice Cream brands. In addition,
CoolBrands markets a wide variety of "all family" premium ice creams, frozen
novelties and frozen desserts under the Eskimo Pie(R), Chipwich(R),
Tropicana(R), Welch's(R), Yoplait(R), Betty Crocker(R) and Trix(R) brand
names.
CoolBrands' subsidiary, Eskimo Pie Frozen Distribution, operates the
second largest "direct store delivery" (DSD) ice cream distribution system in
the U.S., serving CoolBrands products and a growing family of Partner Brands
to supermarkets, convenience stores and other retail customers.
CoolBrands' subsidiary, Americana Foods, is a leading U.S. manufacturer
and supplier of soft serve mixes, packaged ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet
products and frozen novelties to well known national retailers, food companies
and restaurant chains. Americana Foods also manufactures and sells products
for the foodservice channel which are extensively used to standardize quality
and reduce labor costs in on-site food preparation.
CoolBrands' Foodservice Division manufactures and sells premium soft
serve ice cream and frozen yogurt to the foodservice industry, including
Weight Watchers(R) Smart Ones(R) Non Fat Soft Ice Cream and soon to be
introduced Atkins(R) Endulge(TM) Soft Ice Cream for controlled carbohydrate
lifestyles. CoolBrands also manufactures and sells a full line of quality
flavors, chocolate coatings, fudge sauces, powders for chocolate milk, egg nog
bases and other ingredients and flexible packaging products for use in private
label dairy products in addition to the Company's brands.
CoolBrands also franchises and licenses frozen dessert outlets operated
under a Family of Brands including Tropicana(R) Smoothies, Juices & More,
Swensen's(R) Ice Cream, I Can't Believe It's Yogurt(R), Yogen Fruz(R),
Bresler's(R) Premium Ice Cream, Golden Swirl(R) and Ice Cream Churn(R), with
company-owned, franchised and non-traditional partnership locations around the
world.
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding,
among other things, statements relating to goals, plans and projections
regarding the Company's financial position and business strategy. These
statements may be identified by the fact that they use such words as
"anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other
words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future
operating or financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based
on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties,
including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could
cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current
expectations. These factors include, among other things, market factors,
competitive product development and promotional activity, the level of
consumer interest in the Company's products, product costing, the weather, the
performance of management, including management's ability to implement its
plans as contemplated, the Company's relationships with its customers,
franchisees, licensees and licensors, governmental regulations and legislation
and litigation. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
|
